By Scott Taylor,Staff Writer

LEWISTON – Water officials hope residents will leave their cars dirty and swimming pools empty Saturday, letting the city work on the water system.

The city plans to shut down the main pump station on Main Street at noon Saturday. That pump keeps the city’s 8.6-million-gallon water tank full.

Lewiston residents use an average of five to six million gallons of water daily, so Kevin Gagne, deputy public services director, said the tank should have plenty of water. Still, it’s a good time to put off the really wet chores.

“They don’t have to interrupt normal things like cooking and showering, but we hope they won’t water their lawns that day or wash the car,” Gagne said.

The pump station should be back in service by noon Sunday.

“If they need the water, we’re urging them to get it Friday night or wait until Sunday,” he said.

Saturday’s sacrifice should mean cleaner, tastier water come November.

Crews are installing an ammonia treatment system in the pump station. The city usually treats water coming from Lake Auburn with 2.5 parts per million of chlorine. The new system will let Lewiston use less chlorine, about 1 part per million, in addition to ammonia. That water tastes better and has fewer byproducts, Gagne said.

Lewiston will begin using the new treatment system in November.